Dulwich Park - Opening times

[Annasfield]

I'd like to re-open Clare C's thread about the opening and closing times of Dulwich Park. During February and March, the Court Lane gate was open before 7am. Now it never seems to be open early in the morning and it's all a bit of a hassle trecking around to the village gate to walk the dogs before work. (I'd rather spend that time in the park!)I know that we can use the small gate near firemans alley, but sometimes you can get shut out there too.

I realise that the official opening time is 8 - but I was wondering if anyone knows why it's so erratic?

[macroban]

> the official opening time is 8

Is this legal?

Didn't the legal convenant giving the land to "the people" specify dawn to dusk?

[ClareC]

Hi Annasfield,

Im glad you have reopened this thread, I still am none the wiser as to why the Court Lane Gate has such eratic opening hours. Like you I would much prefer being in the park longer than walking all the way round to the village entrance - as would my dogs!

Following my previous thread, I did come across a chap from Southwark Council unlocking the Court Lane gate (whilst I was walking passed having walked all the way from the village grr). I asked him about eratic opening times and was given the standard 8am response / lots of parks to open. I explained that I appreciated that this was "official" opening, but wanted to know why "unofficial" opening was so eratic. He said that he believed an early morning dog walker held a key and unlocked certain gates on his walk round, he didnt know anything more than this.

I have found recently that the Court Lane gate is often locked (this morning included) and having walked up to Fireman's Alley found this locked too! The only guaranteed gate seems to be the village.

[ClareC]

that's an interesting line of enquiry macroban, how do we find out more?

[Annasfield]

Yes please macroban - I'd be interested to know too....

[fractionater]

maybe you should all get up early and go find the mystery dog walker with the key?

[spadetownboy]

and get one cut!!!

[ClareC]

Now that would be conveninent! I was told when I first moved here that the village gate is opened about 6.15am.

[Annasfield]

Would that involve us taking a gate each and waiting....?

[ClareC]

I think as the Village gate is the only dead cert and obviously the first gate to be opened we could ambush from both sides there ;-)

[Annasfield]

Yes but as this person has a key, they could get in through any gate....

[Amelie]

The park will come under the jurisdiction of the Director of Environmental Services at LB Southwark, write to her (cc the CEO and the Leader) pointing out the lack of consistency and ask her if she can sort it out.

[Annasfield]

Thanks Amelie :)) - will look in to it!

[Carrie]

I nearly got locked in the park last night - saw the sign on the gate saying park closes at 8.30pm and as it was only 8.15 decided I had time to walk through to the gate on the South Circular - as I approached it saw the park keepers van driving away and it was already locked and my walk ended up as a run chasing the van to try and get out!

[Ko]

I talked to the Friends of Dulwich Park and they said that the college gate is opened early by contractors arriving (usually 7/7.30am). That is the gate that is most likely to be open early.

They have plans to try and get the Court Lane gate opened earlier by a couple of the residents living next to the park, but they are still working on this.